ALLEGED DELAY

Evening Star, Issue 25113, 1 March 1944, Page 4

ALLEGED DELAY

PRIME MINISTER BLADES OPPOSITION REPLY TO MR HOLLAND (P.A.) WELLINGTON, March 1. " Mr Holland still continues with his diverting little game of endeavouring very hard to score little points," said the, Prime Minister in a statement. "The pity is that practically nil the points claimed are pointless. For instance, he cannot be allowed even a ' near miss' for his reference to it feeing a ' strange admission ' that the last member of tho War Cabinet which was responsible for the authorisation of the change of programme which created the shipping difficulty did not know of the altered time-table earlier. The fact is that the War Cabinet does not deal directly with the matter of local shipping, unless the movement of men of the forces or public safety from war dangers, including the, number of passengers to be permitted to travel without undue risk, is concerned. The question of alteration in the time-table of ships is an administrative matter, dealt with by appropriate departments and the shipping company concerned, and does not come ordinarily before the War Cabinet. Therefore, very regrettably, Mr Holland's much-laboured point is ruled out as wide of the mark. ," Mr 4 Holland's statement that the Opposition is determined to make closer acquaintance with, the truth through investigation is reassuring and to be welcomed cordially as indicating a new improved and even phenomenal attitude for the National Party. The facts remain that (1) Mr Holland knows the reason why the discussion in secret session could not be continued beneficially on Friday, and knows it was beyond the control of the Government. (2) The Opposition objected to proceeding with the Invercargili Licensing Bill on Friday. (3) Shipping arrangements precluded the House from meeting yes- | terday. (4) One day was lost because I of the Opposition's reluctance to pro- ! ceed with the Invercargili Licensing Bill, and will be more than made up during the session. " 1 feel that any further discussion of this trivial matter in the face of the great war problems confronting Parliament and the country would bo futile, aud, therefore, using the words, though not tho prerogative of an editor, T have to say that, as far as I am concerned, ' this correspondence is'now closed,' " concluded Mr Fraser.